Yasser Abbas's inclusion in talks with Saudi, US officials 'jarring' given his lack of formal role, says scholar; sides didn't issue trip readout, allowing presence to go unnoticed

US top diplomat's trip would include stops in Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia, but the trip has not yet been finalized, Israeli officials tell ToI

Next week's General Assembly confab organized with Arab League, EU is latest Riyadh effort to engage in Palestinian issue amid normalization talks; Israeli, PA missions not invited

PA delegation has several demands, but Riyadh is still studying the issue and will take months to decide which of them to put on the table in talks with the US on peace with Israel

Biden's warming to Saudi ruler has been decried by activists after US president vowed to make Riyadh a pariah for its human rights violations

Recognizing that GOP support needed for deal to succeed, son-in-law and senator tell former president that this new normalization accord would be vindication of his Mideast policy

Lamenting 'not normal' Israeli government, NYT columnist implores US president to only accept deal that includes Israeli concessions to Palestinians to keep two-state solution alive

Riyadh to host senior White House and State Department officials on same week that top Palestinian officials will be visiting to discuss high-stakes deal

Ramallah proposing steps that can't be rolled back by Israel, but Biden officials have pressed PA to taper requests and direct them at Jerusalem, not Washington

In statement, defense minister stresses importance of 'security arrangements' tied to expanding Abraham Accords, reportedly arriving with list of queries for White House officials